“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus; the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Having been there before, I was telling my colleague about the many sights and sounds of New Orleans.  One of the best among them is the wide variety of great food to be found there, including home-made beignets and a freshly brewed cup of chicory coffee in the French Quarter’s Café Du Monde. I had her anticipating the experience long before we ever landed at the airport. Due to our different roles in the organization for which we worked, we did not participate in all of the same presentations at the conference we were attending. On one of our first days there, my afternoon session adjourned early. I decided to walk a few blocks down the street and enjoy one of those delicious beignets that I had been so fondly recalling to my friend.  I ordered a coffee and two beignets, one for me and the other to take back to the hotel for my coworker.  When I later knocked on the door to her room, I had a big smile on my face and greeted her by saying, “I have good news and bad news.  The good news is that I went for beignets, and I bought one for each of us.”  She looked at me and said, “Okay then, so what’s the bad news?”  I lowered my eyes as well as my voice and said . . . “I ate both of them!”

Isn’t that quite typical of most of us as we blunder through our lives?  On many typical days, we start off with the absolute best of intentions.  While we run errands, we plan to stop by the nursing home to check on our elderly neighbor who is confined there after a nasty fall.  We have every aim to have lunch with a fellow employee who recently lost his wife but then allow the piles of paper and the need to return calls to get in the way of doing so. We sit down after our evening meal with purpose to address a card or check in by phone but instead justify we really need to take some time for our self to relax. It’s neglecting those things that God would want us to do. No one understood this better than the Apostle Paul who said – “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:15-19).

In his 1970’s variety show, comedian Flip Wilson became famous for creating the character Geraldine who coined the phrase – “The devil made me do it.” Too often, we excuse our circumstances or our temptations for not doing what is acceptable in God’s eyes by finding someone or something to blame. Jesus made it clear that we must be responsible for our own actions.  “For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me… And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me” (Matthew 25:42-43,45).

During the season of Lent, we are challenged to get right with God in some way in order to exercise His will for our life. We seek to find answers to those things that keep us from being in full communion with Him. The traditional thought is that by giving up something we enjoy or rely on, we make a sacrifice thereby identifying with Christ’s suffering experience. In reality, any self-imposed denial we might make would fail in comparison with the price He paid and the ensuing grace He provides. Therefore, we should use the Season of Lent as a time to reexamine our relationship with Him. While we will inevitably fall short, we should be repentant conceding that confession truly is good for the soul. We don’t ever want to be face to face with the Lord and have Him say, “I have good news and bad news. ‘In my Father’s house there are many mansions’ (John 14:2), but unfortunately . . . there is no reservation in your name.”

REFLECTION:  Consider a few recent good intentions that you neglected to fulfill. How did your lack of action in this regard miss the mark of becoming an effective witness for Christ?  What can you “give up” this Lenten season that has until now served as a barrier between you and Him?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 11, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge tells the true-life story of Desmond Thomas Doss who became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor. A youthful Doss decides that he cannot sit by and watch others go off to World War II, so he enlisted with the intention of becoming a medic while refusing to carry a firearm. He excels physically in basic training, but because of his strong belief in the Ten Commandments (including “Thou Shalt Not Kill” – Exodus 20:13) – he becomes an outcast among his fellow soldiers. As the story progresses, his unit becomes engaged in the Battle of Okinawa and is assigned to secure an area labeled as Hacksaw Ridge. Here the Japanese launch a massive counterattack and drive the Americans to retreat. Doss hears the cries of the injured and decides that he cannot abandon them, so one-by-one he rescues and lowers them by rope over the cliff’s edge to safety. Driven by his faith, he prays “just one more” after each rescue, eventually saving the lives of seventy-five while placing his own at risk with each attempt.

In a dramatic scene, the Captain of Doss’ unit makes the following confession: “All I saw was a skinny kid. I didn’t know who you were. You’ve done more than any other man could have done in the service of his country. I’ve never been more wrong about someone in my life, and I hope someday you can forgive me.” How many times have we found this to be true in our own life? We judge others by what we see or sometimes, even worse, by what we hear or think we know about them.  Because a person has a certain name, runs with a particular crowd, or is otherwise known to be “from the wrong side of the tracks” – we have all been guilty of making judgments that are sometimes questionable at best. I know there have been times that I have heard wonderful things about someone after they have died, causing me to wonder how I ever formed the conflicting opinion I had held about them in the first place. To Desmond Doss – it didn’t matter; all he saw was a life worth saving.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus asks His disciples – “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27).  They respond with various answers, naming John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.  Then He asks an even more profound question: “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?  Simon Peter responds by stating: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16; Mark 8:29). Then Jesus says something very interesting: “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being” (Matthew 16:17). Afterwards, He affirms that Peter is the rock upon which He will build His church. He also sternly warns the disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah, as He foreshadows His own death.

What do we learn from Desmond Doss and Jesus about finding meaning in our life?  Doss clearly demonstrated that there was a way to serve his fellow man without breaking the laws of God. His selfless acts of fearlessness were rewarded with a long life. Although he was just a “skinny kid” when he entered WWII, his determination and faith in God more than compensated for any lack in physical size. He became a modern-day David, as he faced his own Goliath treating and rescuing his comrades in close proximity to enemy forces. While Doss was in the business of saving men physically, Jesus understood that He would have to sacrifice His own life in order to spiritually save ours. He revealed who He truly was to only a close few, knowing that through his ultimate death and resurrection – He would become the savior for all mankind.  He reaches out on a personal level, setting a challenge for each of us to be non-judgmentally involved with others daily. For both Doss and Jesus, all they ever saw was a life worth saving. So we, like the young soldier, must dare to look Heavenward and say . . . “Just one more.”

REFLECTION: Are there ways that you can impact your world and help in healing the wounds of a hurting friend or even a stranger who needs a word of encouragement?  Do you see others around you whom you may be misjudging because of their own physical or emotional wounds? How might you ask for spiritual guidance in order to provide a more abundant life for someone in need?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 4, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable” (Romans 12:17).

It is not uncommon these days for many folks to take umbrage with decisions, statements, or actions which they feel have created a sense of unfairness directed toward them, regardless of intention. We have become a litigious society where ‘payback time’ is frequently used as its main operating principle. Political protests have become common and can surface anywhere, from delay tactics in our legislatures to incited acts of violence in the streets of our communities.  In our large cities, gang warfare is prevalent and has resulted in widespread loss of life over turf issues. And although those situations may seem far-reaching for many, it may not be so unusual for us to become involved in social media posts which may end up slandering or destroying another individual’s reputation simply to ‘get even.’ The Greek philosopher Epictetus is credited as having once stated: “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” We all might be better off if we would learn to pause longer and think more deliberately before we act.

Recently, I watched a TV program where one of the recurring characters was closing his place of business for the day when a perfect stranger walked in. The stranger was poorly dressed and seemed uneasy. My guard went up, as did that of the fictional proprietor when he asked what the individual wanted.  The stranger said that he needed a few hundred dollars to buy a suit because he had a job offer and desired to make a good impression. When the owner tells the man to leave, the viewer anticipates that at any time this situation is going to turn into a robbery. Instead, the man thanked the manager who had refused him money, and he turned to exit. Then, out of compassion, the businessman reached into the cash drawer and pulled out two hundred dollars.  Later, after hearing what he had done, his partners in the business relentlessly made fun of their colleague stating that the supposed loan was “money he would never see again.” Nearing the end of the program – the man walks back into the establishment, this time well-dressed, and repays the borrowed money. The moral of the story is to believe in your fellow man, but we know all-too-well that this type of fairy-tale ending often plays out very differently in real life.

The principle of “An eye for an eye” (sometimes referred to as the law of retaliation) is part of the Law of Moses used in the Israelites’ justice system. It was intended to be a guide for judges and was never used to settle grievances personally. However, in Jesus day – the Pharisees and scribes were applying it to everyday relationships, in fact teaching that personal revenge was acceptable. Enter Jesus who says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:38-42).  Jesus intent was not to nullify that established governments have the right to punish those who have committed crimes but rather to state that we be personally led by the concept of forgiveness.  He continued: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).

We who follow Christ are challenged to be different from those who follow the natural inclination to respond in kind.  The world says, “If someone punches you – punch him back.” But one of Jesus’ Chosen stated just the opposite: “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it” (1 Peter 3:9). There is no ‘getting even’ in instigating harm against one who has caused you harm. ‘Evenness’ will occur only when we allow God’s love to take its place. That’s a payback for all of eternity.

REFLECTION: Can you think of a time when you paid back hurt for hurt, evil for evil?  How did it make you feel?  Were you an effective witness for Christ when you did so?  Will you ponder a different response when the next opportunity presents itself?  Will you consider praying for others who oppress you this day?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 25, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” (Proverbs 27:19)

No Valentine’s Day is complete without a good love story. In his book When God Winks Through Love, SQuire Rushnell tells the story of Norma and Gordon Yeager who, having been married on her graduation day, were deeply in love for seventy-two years. The Iowa couple were inseparable until one fateful day when they were in an accident and rushed to the hospital, clinging to life. When the family arrived at the hospital, they noticed that the staff had placed their beds side-by-side and that they were holding hands. At 3:38 p.m., Gordon passed away. But the son looked at his father’s heart monitor and noticed it was still beating, questioning how this could be. The nurse simply said, “Oh they are still holding hands – her heart is beating through his” (the same way it did for seventy-two years). Exactly one hour later at 4:48 p.m., Norma passed away going on to meet Gordon at the gates of Heaven.

In February, the symbol of the heart is as common as a box of chocolates or a picture of one pierced by Cupid’s arrow. It represents expressions of love and affection with emblematic references as far back as the Middle Ages. In more recent times, one of the most widely distributed and well-known logos, I ♥ NY, was first used in 1977 to promote the American city and the state. In Biblical references, the heart was thought to be the central organ that controlled all activities and determined one’s character. Because we are created by God, it was assumed by those who knew Him that He fully understood who we were by looking at our heart. This led the psalmist to ask the question: “would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21)?  Today, there are often commonly understood heart references used to characterize people. These include terms like “half-hearted”, “heart of gold” or declarations such as, “His heart was in the right place.”

There is no better account of God’s understanding of one’s heart than in His calling of David. The Lord said to his father, “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). After his sins of murder and adultery, King David needed a new heart. He knew the only way to find it was to pray these words, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). David clarified that only God could restore his spiritual well-being. Later in Jesus day, the teachers of the law once criticized the disciples for not following the hand-washing tradition of the elders. Jesus called them hypocrites and quoted Isaiah by saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6).

Now more than ever, our hearts allow us to insensitively retreat from God. Striving for success and recognition, open immorality, and downright selfishness are but a few impediments to becoming closer to Him. We are challenged by these words from Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Despite his sinful actions – David knew that if your motives are pure, you will be moving in the direction of God’s will for your life. We can develop a heart acceptable to God when we allow ourselves to be humbled, confess our sins, perform acts of service, and trust in Him. Perhaps the lyricist, Cleland B. McAfee, caught this vision when he wrote these words:

“There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God;a place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.  O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God.”

He who made us knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees those conflicts within us that no one else notices. Only He searches the thoughts and intents of our heart. Even so, He continues to love us just the same. Now that’s impressive, because that is true love – near to the very heart of God!

REFLECTION: Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). What are those impure things that pull your heart away from Jesus? How might you consider revising your daily routine and breaking old habits in order to draw closer to His will for your life?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 18, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3)

Nestled in the Rocky Mountain range of Yellowstone National Park, you will find the most famous geyser in the world – Old Faithful. The Wyoming landmark was given its name in 1870 because of its predictability.  Since 2000 the geothermal marvel continues to regularly erupt every 44 to 125 minutes, up to twenty times each day. I once knew a lady who volunteered at a nursing home several hours each day, at least five days a week, for many years. As long as she could find a ride – she unselfishly served during any kind of weather, sometimes without regard for her own well-being. She said that volunteering was what kept her going. She believed that the little things she was able to do for the residents who lived there were significant and felt, because of her age, she related well to them. She viewed what she did as a ministry, and at one point I simply began to refer to my friend endearingly as “Old Faithful.”

The motto “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” was once attributed to the U. S. Postal Service. Even though it can be found inscribed in block letters on the James Farley Post Office near New York City’s Penn Station, the postal service claims that it has no official creed. The words give testimony to the prevailing attitude and dedication that our workers once had for their jobs. These days, the concept of faithfulness does not apply to much of our life view. We take marriage vows, but abandoning them has become far too easy. We are loyal to our favorite sports team as long as they are winning; if not, we look elsewhere.  We declare support for a political candidate who we think closely reflects our values, but it is easy to be swayed to someone else’s perspective. Even our Pledge of Allegiance to the nation has become tarnished.

I suspect that is also true with many of us in our relationship with God. In Luke 16:1-7, Jesus tells The Parable of the Shrewd Manager. In it, a manager mishandles his master’s wealth and is informed that he will be discharged. In his final days of employment, he cleverly plots to seek favor from his master’s debtors by reducing what they owe (most likely an excessive amount). He does this in the hope that they might later take care of him. Surprisingly the rich man expresses his admiration for the steward’s actions. Jesus states: “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Luke 16:8-10). At first glance, it may appear that the master is rewarding dishonesty. The greater principle here is that if everything we own is a gift from God, then we come to understand that we are His stewards. So, we can understand Jesus’ conclusion that: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13). Bottom line – we must direct our faithfulness toward God, not the things of this world.

When it comes right down to it, we will never be as faithful to God as He is to us. The psalmist said, “Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created” (Psalm 119:90). Thomas Obediah Chisholm reflected that wisdom when he penned these words to a famous hymn: “Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!” Therefore, we must be faithful in the little things – our prayers, the acts of love we show to those in need, and by our devotion in applying His Word to our lives. How reassuring it is to know that even when we falter, He is there. The Apostle Paul stated, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). For He is the “Old Faithful” to each of us. With great predictability, we can be sure that His next blessing is just minutes away.

REFLECTION: How has God shown His faithfulness to you? What are the little things on which you need to focus in order to be more faithful to Him? What steps will you put in place to “bind them” in your life?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 11, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up” (Romans 15:2).

If you grew up in the golden age of television, you will remember Lucy and Ricky. The Ricardo’s ‘I Love Lucy’ neighbors were the Mertzes, the friendly ever-present landlords who became so close to the couple that they served as godparents to Little Ricky when he was born. Chances are if you know this series, you will also recall the Mitchells and their rambunctious son Dennis (‘The Menace’) who frequently caused havoc for the Wilsons who lived next door. Another slightly less visible Wilson lived adjacent to the Taylor family in the 1990’s ‘Home Improvement’ series. The mostly unseen neighbor peered over the fence and frequently became the go-to guy for solving the Taylors’ problems with his engaging conversation. Over the years, the concept of neighbors played has been an important theme. As Mr. Rogers entered the house, he put on his sneakers and cardigan sweater while he sang “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” to many generations of children, making us all feel that neighboring was the right thing to do.

These days, we often don’t know or want to know our neighbors. If we are lucky enough to have a yard, a good fence often keeps us from stating the obvious: “unless we extend an invitation – you stay on your side and we’ll remain on ours.” In his poem, Mending Wall, Robert Frost writes of two neighbor farmers who join hands in the Spring to rebuild the stone wall between their properties. The one neighbor, who serves as the poem’s narrator, contemplates the need for the wall since there are no animals to be restrained by its created barrier. At one point he questions why it was even put there in the first place. He says, “Before I built a wall I’d ask to know…what I was walling in or walling out.” But his neighbor hangs on to his father’s words of wisdom which simply stated were, “Good fences make good neighbors.”

Jesus was once asked what was His most important instruction. His reply was, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). There are days when the first of these is much easier to fulfill than the other. I have lived in the same house for several decades, and during that period the ownership of the house next door has turned over many times. The current occupants were once described by another neighbor as “a little rough around the edges.” Even though that description sums up their conduct fairly well, I have always tried to be kind and respectful – you know, neighborly. A few months ago, I responded to the doorbell to see one of them standing there. They wanted to make me aware they would be going away for a few days and just asked that I keep an eye on their house. It reaffirmed who we need to be. The Apostle Paul said: “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).

Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan because He was prompted by the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Merely put, He responded that our neighbor could be anyone who needs us. A good neighborhood watch program might say it is those who live on our block or in our apartment building. The Reverend Bobby Schuller once phrased it this way: “Don’t discredit what you have to give to a hurting world. Be aware of the needs of the people in the fifteen feet of space around you. They are there. Have listening ears and meet the needs of people who are hurting. And we’re all hurting. Be the kind of person that is always available to shine the light.” You will find that if you practice this technique, the better neighbor you will become and the more blessings you will receive. So even though they may be a little rough around the edges – “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2). While building that fence might be a wise idea, we don’t want to build it so high that we miss the cry of one who may need us.

REFLECTION: Who do you define as your neighbor? Are you attentive to the needs of those around you? How might adopting and extending the ‘fifteen feet rule’ improve your vision of ministry to those whom you may not envision to be your neighbor?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 4, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty.            Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom.        We adore you as the one who is over all things.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)

As the orderly and peaceful transfer of power takes place in America at least once every eight years, we are reminded that greatness is defined not by the person who ascends to the Presidency but rather by the leadership of a nation founded on the principle of freedom. In 2016 – the man who would become President ran on the theme “Making America Great Again” frequently emphasizing what he personally would be able to do for our nation. He did this at the same time as the sitting President of the opposing party campaigned that not voting for his candidate would be a “personal insult” to his legacy. Author of inspiration William Arthur Ward once said, “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.” Unfortunately, most persons who rise to this position claim that they understand with absolute clarity what ails the nation and how to go about repairing it. However, in politics – humility and well-intended acts of service are often superseded by arrogance and divisiveness in order that ‘a means to an end’ is established.

It’s a mistake to allow the world to define greatness. It is not about rank and status. It’s not about how powerful we become, how rich we are or whether we have some notable achievement in politics or sports. “I’m the greatest” was a famous line of the late world heavyweight boxing champ, Muhammad Ali. His biographer Thomas Hauser, author of Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, reflected on the champ following his death in 2016: “We attended a tribute to Muhammad at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. I made some opening remarks and referred to an incident that had occurred years earlier when Ali took a flight from Washington to New York. As the flight crew readied for take-off, an attendant instructed, ‘Mr. Ali; please buckle your seatbelt.’ ‘Superman don’t need no seatbelt,’ Ali informed her. ‘Mr. Ali,’ the flight attendant said sweetly. ‘Superman don’t need no plane.’ Ali fastened his seatbelt.”

Following a miracle where Jesus healed a boy possessed by an evil spirit, the crowd marveled at all He had done. The disciples told Him that they tried to stop a man driving out demons in His name because he was not one of ‘the chosen’ –  meanwhile arguing who would be the greatest among them. “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest” (Luke 9:37-50). Jesus seemed to be telling the disciples that our authority comes from God, not because we are a member of a select group. Later, Luke tells of another greatness dispute among the disciples following ‘The Last Supper.’  Jesus responds: “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). Christ’s message to the disciples and to us was that if we want to be great in God’s kingdom, we must learn to be the servant of all.

Martin Luther King once stated, “Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” It is unfortunate that jockeying for position and establishing our legacy in a desire for greatness often diminishes servanthood.  In his inaugural address on January 20, 2017, President Donald J. Trump uttered these words: “At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction that a nation exists to serve its citizens.” In that regard, those who strive for greatness should stand up less to demonstrate their power and learn to fall on their knees more as they seek God’s direction. When we begin to do that as a nation, then we will have attained a true understanding of what greatness truly is.

REFLECTION: What is the biggest obstacle you face as you seek to be a faithful servant of Christ?  Where do you draw the line between a healthy self-esteem and pride? How do you face the struggle over the forces of this world and give in to the Spirit who lives within you (1 John 4:4)?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY 28, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (Psalm 55:22)

I recall a time when I was checking my luggage at an airport before going to the gate.  As I placed my bag on the scale, the associate told me that it exceeded the weight limit by several pounds. I was also informed that if I decided to check the bag as it was, I would have to pay a fee. When I inquired what the fee would be, I was shocked at the amount.  Not wishing to delay all those who were in line behind me, I asked if there were any other options. The attendant looked at me as if she wanted to say, “Duh…..”  Then she stated the obvious: “Sir I suggest that you simply remove a few items from the bag you are checking and place them in your carry on.”  I did so quickly, and I was “good to go.”  I do remember thinking at the time that this was stupid, because I would be taking the same amount of weight on the plane.  But I did not express my objection. If transferring some of the weight relieved the burden of the extra fee, then all parties would be satisfied.

It’s that time of year when we can feel overwhelmed as though we are personally carrying excess baggage. The beginning of the year presents us with new goals which we have set to challenge ourselves or, even worse, have been established for us by someone else. It’s a time when we realize that we have lived in excess over the holidays. Now we have the additional pounds to lose or the extra fees to pay on our credit cards. Or maybe both. Routine obligations which have been postponed because of the season are now back on our schedule. In addition, we may have been with family or friends we haven’t seen in a while. This often reignites old arguments or perhaps connects us with extra responsibilities or concerns. These burdens present themselves in the dullest of the seasons when the weather is gloomy and summer vacation seems a long way off.  So we take a deep sigh, and like I did with my overloaded luggage – we take a quick assessment of just what our options might be to relieve some of the burdens at hand.

Enter Jesus, saying:   “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Here, Jesus drew a distinct contrast between the Pharisees and Himself. In His time, these religious leaders had established lists of spiritual duties to keep the Jewish people from breaking God’s laws. The lists were long and burdensome, often too extensive to be kept even by the religious leaders themselves. Jesus uses the symbol of a yoke to demonstrate how he will help us carry our burdens. In Jesus day and for centuries thereafter, a wooden yoke would often be utilized to join two animals together. The result was that their combined strength could pull a load that would have been difficult for one animal to move alone. Unlike the requirements imposed by the Pharisees Jesus states that His burden on us is light. He asks us simply to believe and trust in Him.  He carries the burden that we were meant to carry all the way to the cross where His perfect obedience and righteousness are exchanged for our sin.

The Apostle Paul explained it this way: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus never promised that He would remove all the difficulties of our lives. But He did promise that if we followed Him, He would provide the rest and forgiveness we need to face our life’s challenges.  In that way, we do not bear our burdens alone. As with my luggage, the weight is still there but the load has been shifted. So as the song says, just “Give Them All to Jesus” – your “shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys” (Phil Johnson and Bob Benson). When we become yoked with Jesus, the excess baggage we have been trying to carry alone will become oh so much lighter.

REFLECTION: What are the burdens you are facing or have been trying to carry for a long time? How might you begin to partner with Jesus to lessen your load? If you know someone who seems to be carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, would you be able to use Jesus’ example of the yoke as a demonstration of His love for each of us?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY 21, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”  (Hebrews 10:25)

I recently watched the movie Sully. The 2016 film followed the January, 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River orchestrated by pilots Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles. The flight which had just taken off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport struck a flock of birds, disabling both engines after just three minutes in the air. All 155 passengers and crew survived with only minor injuries, creating a highly-publicized event referred to as “The Miracle on the Hudson.” What was not significantly emphasized at the time was the subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board which became the focus of the movie. The investigation centered on several computerized simulations demonstrating that the plane could have landed safely without engines at either of two nearby airports. Sully argued that these simulations were unrealistic because they contained pre-programmed knowledge allowing for immediate reaction to the emergency and not providing any time for real life decision-making. Once additional time was added for these ‘human factor’ considerations, the Board concluded the Sully acted responsibly thus saving the lives of everyone aboard.

In this movie, as with many situations, the age-old question of knowledge vs wisdom comes into play. Alfred Lloyd Tennyson once stated that “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” Computers will only give us the information for which they were programmed, once defined by the expression “garbage in, garbage out.” Likewise, the automated digital assistant ‘Siri’ and the voice control system known as ‘Alexa’ can provide all sorts of data to you simply for the asking. They are knowledgeable, and their statistics and facts will often enable the immediate gratification required. However, they lack wisdom and most of all – the warmth of humankind.  Alexa can’t hold our hand, give us a hug, or wipe our tears when we are sad. Rightfully so, but should it concern us that there seems to be a trend in our society to move away from personal interactions in order that our needs might be satisfied more expeditiously?

Since we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and He calls us into fellowship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9), we should be cautious about the depersonalization of our lives permeating many aspects of our culture. Not that long ago, it was commonplace to patronize the stores of the local merchants. There you chatted with storeowners who lived in your town and were vested in the community. While you shopped or walked from store to store – you would have a good chance of running into people you knew, perhaps engaging in good conversation.  Soon those stores became replaced by larger retailers which located in the suburbs, but even there were workers who continued to provide some level of human interaction. Now it has become easier to do our shopping online. Soon drones will be able to deliver our package in thirty minutes or less. Do we really need most of what we order that quickly? What do we sacrifice in the process of gaining this convenience? When we absent the human factor from more and more of our interactions, we can’t help but also move a little further from God.

God’s Word provides wise counsel in this regard.  The Apostle Paul said, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours” (Romans 1:11-12). One might argue that encouragement can come via a text or a tweet. While that may be so, there are limitations. Jesus Himself stated: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). The gathering is being devalued as the human factor becomes less and less. In the early days of the church – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). These days our devotion is to our hand-held devices, rationalizing that when we lack information they will make us wise. James would refute that message as he tells us – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5). What a novel idea!

REFLECTION: As you look back over recent months and years, consider ways that you have become less interactive with others.  Have you restricted your own knowledge base while becoming more reliant on electronic devices? How might you grow through more involvement with others and God’s Word?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY 14, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

In a short-lived CBS series from the 1970’s, the documentary-like reenactments examined the proceedings leading up to the deaths of famous historical figures. It was appropriately titled Appointment with Destiny.  When one thinks about it, events in which we must confront unanticipated appointments can happen to each of us at any time. You are traveling down a country road soon to realize that as you go around the next bend, you will be face to face with another vehicle in your lane because its driver has fallen asleep at the wheel. You go to a routine doctor’s appointment and find that the results of your blood tests indicate that you may have a life-threatening disease.  I think about the commercial where a guy is handed a note which says that his heart attack is scheduled for tomorrow at 5 p.m.  A little forewarning would sometimes be helpful, but most times – it’s just best not to know.

One day while I was cleaning a storage area, I ran across some videos I had taken.  I decided to view them so that I could label the unidentified cases.  None were more than a few years old, but I was struck by the changes that occurred since they were made.  One included some friends and family members, several of whom had passed away.  Another contained an interview with a married couple who were celebrating their 70^th wedding anniversary. Both were very alert and able to recapture the details of the courtship.  Not long after its filming, they moved into a care facility where both passed away within a year.  A third video was taken at a wedding of a young couple.  They looked happy, but less than six months later they went their separate ways. Situations like these are pertinent reminders of the adage: “Want to make God laugh – tell Him your plans.” Life is certainly full of time-sensitive moments, many of which are unpredictable.

So here we are, ready to turn the page of the calendar and begin another year. Many of us will remember a time when we would buy a new annual appointment book. I used to feel like it was a whole new beginning, because those pages had nothing written on them. Then came the day of electronic scheduling. If you had a parent meeting at your child’s school on the fourth Tuesday of each month or a service club every Wednesday night, your computer would automatically roll those dates over from one year to the next. Before you know it, your “fresh start” contains so many appointments that there isn’t always time to schedule some of the things you most value. We should be wiser then about how we fill in our time and give greater scrutiny to the appointments we make. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Scripture tells us that everything is temporal except for God and His promises which we inherit if we faithfully follow Him. We have a very important future appointment with Our Maker written in His Book of Life. David understood this: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16). We must, therefore, bring meaning and importance to each new day. Otherwise, they will become nothing more than a succession of fleeting moments. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). So how is it then that we should give meaning to our lives as we move day to day and year to year? Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Then on that day we He calls out your name, it will turn out to be the best unscheduled date you’ll ever have – a true appointment with destiny.

REFLECTION:  William Penn wrote – “I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”  How can you apply this to your life in the upcoming year?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY 7, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.